Chapter Ninety-Two: Subjugating the Queen of the Sacred Dragon Knights

Soon, the true appearance of the Holy Dragon Rider revealed itself to everyone. Yet, upon seeing it clearly, Li Ren couldn’t help but feel a tinge of disappointment. The name promised grandeur, yet its form was almost identical to the wind serpents they had just slaughtered. It made sense that it appeared in Wind Serpent Canyon. The primary difference was that ordinary wind serpents were an unsettling shade of blue, with delicate scales and a distinctly serpentine look. In contrast, the Holy Dragon Rider gleamed all over, its body shining with no other colors—befitting a creature bearing the “holy” moniker.

The creature before them was still small, its lively and intelligent eyes fixed upon Li Ren and his companions, betraying neither emotion nor intent. “Would you like to attempt a mount contract?” the system prompted. Li Ren, without hesitation, confirmed. Yet after he made his choice, it was clear the Holy Dragon Rider refused; the irritation in its eyes revealed he had been coldly rejected.

So, they switched candidates, letting Shadow try next. Shadow was reluctant—he knew full well the temperament of this creature, and doubted he would fare any better. Indeed, as he approached, he met the exact same rejection Li Ren had faced. He shrugged; it hardly mattered. The Holy Dragon Rider was destined for an enemy faction that would later oppose them, and its powerful holy attributes would make future battles exceedingly difficult.

Now that the Holy Dragon Rider had appeared, it would be foolish not to seize it immediately. It was worth noting that its first appearance was during the second major siege, when a previously obscure player named Mad Red Eyes entered the battlefield. With the Holy Dragon Rider’s overwhelming holy powers, he shifted the tide of battle and rose to prominence, forming a powerful faction. But that was another story, best left for later. As things stood, Mad Red Eyes would likely never rise again. Perhaps he might return to clear Wind Serpent Canyon, but the Holy Dragon Rider, destined to appear there, had already been claimed from the moment it was born—such was fate.

Lania didn’t even bother approaching, having already given up. Their attributes were too incompatible; even from a distance, they could sense a faint mutual hostility. To attempt a contract would be futile—she’d likely be bitten before she could even try. The last possibility lay with Queen Lantis. If she failed, they would be forced to destroy the creature in its cradle, a regrettable necessity. Though it was a pity, if the enemy claimed it and wielded it as a weapon against them, they would be fools. Li Ren and his companions had no intention of making such a costly mistake. Judging by Lania’s current demeanor, if no one could tame it, she would gladly kill the creature herself.

Thus, the Queen stepped forward. Lania glared from behind, a silent show of support. Perhaps the Holy Dragon Rider sensed its fate—why else would it finally choose to follow the Queen? No one could say, especially once everyone learned Lantis’s true identity. When asked later, the Holy Dragon Rider would always respond with a sullen arrogance: “You’re all too ugly. Only the Queen matches my aesthetic standards.” And so the matter was settled—what a marvel!

With the Queen in command, success was inevitable. As Lantis drew near, the Holy Dragon Rider flew up to her, and after a burst of light, vanished. According to Lantis, she had successfully contracted with the creature, which was now in a dormant state, needing time to awaken before it could be summoned as her mount. The Queen smiled; the Holy Dragon Rider was one of the few flying mounts, boasting impressive attributes and a stunning appearance. Lantis was thoroughly satisfied.

With their business concluded, they returned to Cloudfall City. As they arrived, the time was just right—players were logging in hurriedly.

Each city system had assigned a mount summoner, and Cloudfall City was no exception. Situated near the quest hall, the mount summoner mainly sold specialized feed for mounts, but had little other purpose. Players had spent thirty minutes discussing mounts; the forums were ablaze with rumors. The process by which Soren obtained the Azure Dragon Horse had already been uncovered—or perhaps Soren himself had revealed it.

Yet the feat of acquiring the Azure Dragon Horse was beyond most. Soren’s success was due to the extraordinary strength he displayed during the siege, slaying countless elite NPCs—far surpassing even the Earth Dragon Knights. After the siege, the former city lord, Fan Yunshan, returned wounded to the now-neutral Stardawn City and personally gifted Soren one of the rare Azure Dragon Horses before retreating to the city lord’s manor, never to be seen again.

Replicating Soren’s achievement was nearly impossible, but acquiring other mounts was not so difficult. The official channels had provided numerous methods—easiest of all was simply purchasing a mount. Bought mounts were ordinary horses, requiring feeding, but they were convenient and saved travel time, offering far more freedom than before. Previously, rented mounts from NPCs followed strict routes and offered little flexibility.

Of course, buying a horse meant buying feed, which added up to a considerable expense. Still, most players were enthusiastic. The system had just been restored, and a flood of players went online—within moments, crowds gathered around Cloudfall City’s mount summoner.